Brassiere



M. P. LEWIS BRAssIERE.

Sept. 9, 1941.

Filed April 10, 1939 INVENTOR MazyR Lews 1w QQJUm ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2,255,720 BRAssIEnE Mary P. Lewis, Auburn, Calif.

Application April 10, 1939, Serial No. 267,096

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in womens undergarments, and in particular the invention is directed to an improved brassire of the uplift type.

The principal object of the invention is to pro- Vide-as an article of manufacture-a brassiere which not only includes a positive uplift feature, but also is arranged to hold the breasts well separated in a natural and comfortable manner while maintaining the diaphragm fiat as is desirable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique brassiere which may be incorporated with equal effectiveness in the design of bathing suits, slips, girdles, play suits, and the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a brassire which includes a plurality of back extensions arranged with the brassiere straps in novel combination; such extensions and straps cooperating with the remainder of the garment to assure the natural breast separation and diaphragm control hereinbefore mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive article of manufacture and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the garment as worn.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the garment as worn. Figure 3 is a front view of the garment as outstretched to show the assembled elements and to illustrate the cut of the material forming the breast pockets and back extensions.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the garment comprises breast pockets each of which comprises an upper panel I and a lower panel 2; the upper and lower panel of each pocket being stitched together along seam 3, while the pockets are stitched together along seam 4 with the upper and lower panels of each pocket in end to end relation as shown.

As will be seen from Fig. 3, the upper edge 5 of each panel I and the lower edge 6 of the corresponding panel 2 are substantially straight and diverge from seam 4; the material of the upper panels I being on the straight of the goods relative to edges 5, while the material of the lower panels 2 is on the straight of the goods relative to edges 6. As a result, the material of the upper and lower panels is on a relative bias at seams 3 and 4 and for the purpose hereinafter described.

The lower panels 2 are extended at their outer ends as integral and tapering back extensions 1; the lower edge of such extensions being straight with edges 6. Other tapering back extensions 8 are stitched on the breast pockets at their outer ends and are disposed so that the upper edges thereof are substantially parallel to the lower edges of extensions 1; the extensions 8 at their inner ends being as wide as the breast pockets and overlapping the inner end portions of extensions 1 to a certain extent. In effect, corresponding extensions '1 and 8 diverge relative to each other from the breast pockets.

Shoulder straps 9 are connected to the peak of upper panels I of the breast pockets, form a loop, and are then connected intermediate their ends, as at ID, with the outer ends of back extensions 8. The free portion ll of straps 9 depending from extensions 8 are each provided with a button [2 secured on the outer end thereof. Buttonholes l3 are formed adjacent the outer end of extensions 1.

When the garment is worn, the back extensions 1 and 8 terminate in spaced relation as shown in Fig. 2; the portions ll of the shoulder straps being crossed and buttons l2 engaged in buttonholes l3 of the opposite extension I. By reason of the described back extension and shoulder strap arrangement, a positive upwardas well as lateral pull is exerted on each breast pocket. As the material of panels I and 2 is on a relative bias at seams 3 and 4, the upward and lateral pull on the breast pockets eifects a fiattening of the portion of the brassiere over the wearers diaphragm and proper separation and uplift of the breasts. In short, the brassiere effects proper uplift while at the same time maintaining a distinct division line between the breast pockets. 7

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such an article of manufacture as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the article of manufacture, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure 7 by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a brassiere including a pair of breast pockets secured together at adjacent ends, a pair of separate back extensions formed on and extending from the outer end of each'breast pocket, said extensions of each pair terminating at their outer ends in vertically spaced relation, and shoulder straps each connected at one end to a breast pocket and intermediate its ends to the outer end of one "of the corresponding back extensions; the other end portions of said straps crossing each other 7,

and being detachably connected to the other and opposite back extensions at the outer ends thereof.

2. An article of manufacture as in claim in which the shoulder straps are connected ate i ts ends to the outer end of the upper and corresponding back extension; the other end por tions of the straps crossing each other and being detachably connected to the lower and opposite back extensions at the outer ends thereof.

'4. As an article of manufacture, a brassire including a pa r or breast pockets secured together at adjacent ends, a pair of separate back extensions formed on and extending from the outer end of each breast pocket, said extensions tapering toward their outer ends and being of substantial width at their inner ends, the exsion; the other end portions of said straps crossing each other and being detachably connected tdthe lower and opposite back extensions at the outer ends thereof.

' 5.As an article of manufacture, a brassiere including a pair of breast pockets secured together'at adjacent ends, a pair of separate back extensions formed on and extending from the outer end of each'breast pocket, said extensions beingiof substantial width at their inner ends and overlapped adjacent thereto, the adjacent longitudinal edges of the extensions of eachppair diverging from said inner ends and the straight of thenmaterial forming each extension being parallel to said longitudinal edge thereof, the outer nds of the extensions of each pair terminating in ,vertically spaced relation, and spaced shoulder straps each connected at one end to a breast pocket at the top, and intermediate its ends to the outer end of the upper and corresponding back extension; the other end portions of saidstraps crossing each other and being detachably connected to the lower and opposite back extensions at the outer ends thereof.

7 MARY P. LEWIS. 

